Dinner Party for Good Friends

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Linda and I (mostly Linda) prepared a dining experience to share with good friends I met during the time I lived here two years ago - Sharon and John, from Los Gatos California, both retired professors at San Jose State University.  They own a home here in Antigua and spend about 6 months a year here and the other six months traveling around the world.  They'll be leaving in March for an extended stay in Australia.  The second couple are Ira and Carol, who live permanently here in Antigua.  Ira is from North Carolina, though he spent most of his working life in Central and South america.  Carol is a Guatemalteca who was born in Guatemala City, but raised all over the world, including many years in the United States.  I've visited Ira and Carol in their truly magnificent home in Antigua, filled with historical artwork and antiques that are irreplaceable.  It's much like visiting a museum that they live in and use everyday!

Linda and I came up with a menu and prepared everything before our guests arrived:  
*Guatemalan cream cheese topped with Linda's homemade chutney and served with delicious and crispy corn crackers sold in our one 'supermarket' in Antigua, Bodogona.
*Roast pork loin marinated in Argentinean chimichuri sauce
*Savory corn cakes, Venezuelan style, also accompanied by the beautifully green chimichurri sauce, originally from Argentina. Chimichurri Sauce.
* Glazed carrots with butter-brown sugar glaze
*Pan roasted zucchini with olive oil and balsamic flavoring
*Lemon meringue pie

Delicious dinner party serving board

The spectacular lemon meringue pie made by Linda

This is the garden courtyard in the middle of the 8-house complex

This is the house directly across from Linda's, owned by a doctor and
his family, who live in Guatemala City, coming to Antigua (about
30 miles) for weekends and holidays

This is a copula, seen on most homes above the kitchen